Solar Energy: What You Need to Know

Inside Two Electric Cars
GM’s Chevy Volt is a plug-in hybrid concept car. Tesla Motors’ Roadster is an all-electric vehicle in production. We peek under the hoods of both.

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Hydrogen and Fuel Cells – Its Advantages
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Have you heard about the latest technology that has caught the attention of environmentalists worldwide? Hydrogen technology is not new and it has been around for many years now. Continuous developments with the technology is being pushed through various governments and institutions because they can see a lot of advantages by using an alternative source of energy like hydrogen fuel.

Currently, converted cars are now using hydrogen fuel. Car engines are typically gasoline powered but with the introduction of hydrogen fuel, car owners can choose between hydrogen fuel and gasoline to power their vehicle.

Here are the advantages of using hydrogen and fuel cells:

• Fuel cells aren’t dangerous. If you frequently surf the net, you’ve probably heard some myths about hydrogen. Fuel cells are easy to operate and are not hazardous. The reason why a lot of people view hydrogen negatively is because of the 1937 zeppelin accident in Hindenburg.  The accident was recorded and publicized extensively. That happened many years ago but with today’s advanced hydrogen technology, the use of hydrogen and fuel cells is not something to be scared of.

• Hydrogen provides plenty of energy. Fuel cells are powered with HHO gas and this is similar to water vapor. You will only use water and the HHO generator will do its task. It will separate hydrogen from oxygen molecules. The power of the generator will come from the separated hydrogen. Water is available anywhere, not unless your in a desert, scarcity is not an issue. With the scarcity of oil, it’s no wonder why its price is soaring higher and higher every year.

• Fuel cells require low maintenance. Once your car is converted, you will need to ensure that the quart-sized reservoir has the proper fluid amount. Other than that, you don’t have any other problem.

Gas stations are taking a lot of your hard-earned money. If you want to put an end to this, have your car converted now. Hydrogen powered vehicles are very limited and the purchase of such car is often regulated. Perhaps in the future, hydrogen powered cars will be available to the public and there will be better sources of hydrogen; only then can the price of hydrogen cars be more affordable.

Now that you know that the use of hydrogen and fuel cells is not dangerous, will you have your car converted? This is not a huge problem because all you need are hydrogen fuel car kits or boost kits and you can run your car using hydrogen power. You can definitely improve mileage and you can save a lot of money. Now, you can use the extra money to purchase other more important things.

At present, the source of hydrogen fuel is still under continuous research and studies. Experts are still trying to discover less expensive means of getting usable hydrogen. Although hydrogen makes up a large portion of the atmosphere, most are not in usable form. With studies underway, people can expect that in the future, the planet will be less polluted.

Environmentalists are pushing for the worldwide acceptance of hydrogen and fuel cells. It is up to the different countries now to pursue the use of hydrogen technology. Currently, only rich countries can afford this technology.

Well, who knows; in the future, everything might change.

Renewable energy    · Environment

Renewable energy sources worldwide at the end of 2006. Source: REN21

Renewable energy sources worldwide at the end of 2006. Source: REN21[1]

Renewable energy

Wind Turbine

Biofuels

Biomass

Geothermal

Hydro power

Solar power

Tidal power

Wave power

Wind power

Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources—such as sunlight[2], wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat—which are renewable (naturally replenished). Renewable energy technologies range from solar power, wind power, hydroelectricity/micro hydro, biomass and biofuels for transportation.

In 2006, about 18% of global final energy consumption came from renewables, with 13% coming from traditional biomass, such as wood-burning. Hydropower was the next largest renewable source, providing 3%, followed by hot water/heating, which contributed 1.3%. Modern technologies, such as geothermal, wind, solar, and ocean energy together provided some 0.8% of final energy consumption.[1] The technical potential for their use is very large, exceeding all other readily available sources.[3][4]

Renewable energy technologies are sometimes criticised for being intermittent or unsightly, yet the market is growing for many forms of renewable energy. Wind power is growing at the rate of 30 percent annually, with a worldwide installed capacity of over 100 GW,[5] and is widely used in several European countries and the United States.[6] The manufacturing output of the photovoltaics industry reached more than 2,000 MW in 2006,[7] and photovoltaic (PV) power stations are particularly popular in Germany.[8] Solar thermal power stations operate in the USA and Spain, and the largest of these is the 354 MW SEGS power plant in the Mojave Desert. [9]. The world’s largest geothermal power installation is The Geysers in California, with a rated capacity of 750 MW.[10] Brazil has one of the largest renewable energy programs in the world, involving production of ethanol fuel from sugar cane, and ethanol now provides 18 percent of the country’s automotive fuel.[11] Ethanol fuel is also widely available in the USA.

While there are many large-scale renewable energy projects and production, renewable technologies are also suited to small off-grid applications, sometimes in rural and remote areas, where energy is often crucial in human development.[12] Kenya has the world’s highest household solar ownership rate with roughly 30,000 small (20–100 watt) solar power systems sold per year.[13]

Climate change concerns coupled with high oil prices, peak oil and increasing government support are driving increasing renewable energy legislation, incentives and commercialization. European Union leaders reached an agreement in principle in March 2007 that 20 percent of their nations’ energy should be produced from renewable fuels by 2020, as part of its drive to cut emissions of carbon dioxide, blamed in part for global warming.[14] Investment capital flowing into renewable energy climbed from $80 billion in 2005 to a record $100 billion in 2006.[15] This level of investment combined with continuing double digit percentage increases each year has moved what once was considered alternative energy to mainstream. Wind was the first to provide 1% of electricity, but solar is not far behind.[16] Some very large corporations such as BP, General Electric, Sharp, and Royal Dutch Shell are investing in the renewable energy sector.[17][18]

Hydrogen as Fuel for Motor Vehicles
Boomers Bank
Hydrogen as fuel for motor vehicles, is this a great idea? As early as 1970s, plans for hydrogen powered vehicles have been in the works. Scientists and researchers believe that these cars can change the future. People know for a fact that there is great abundance of hydrogen and unlike fossil fuels, scarcity is not a problem. With regards to exhaust emissions, it cannot increase the presence of greenhouse gases here on Earth.

Environmentalists love the idea of hydrogen fuel and no one can really tell what will happen in the near future. However, according to some studies, improper production of hydrogen fuel can emit nitrogen oxides. Nitrogen oxides can add to global warming since it causes acid rain. This can be prevented and minimized through appropriate engine timing as well as optimized hydrogen concentration.

Hydrogen cars can use the alternative fuel using two approaches. The first approach will be to use fuel cells and the other one is to modify the internal combustion engine of your car.

Hybrid cars can either use gasoline and hydrogen. Two tanks are found in the car; one for gas and the other for hydrogen. Dual tanks are recommended at present because hydrogen stations are uncommon. In the whole US alone, there are only over 100 hydrogen stations. With two tanks, you can refuel with gasoline and the car will still run. This is a practical way of conquering the road and at the same time, cutting down gas costs.

With the use of fuel cells, you can double the range run of your motor vehicle. You will simply use water and the hydrogen there will react with oxygen. Water vapor is produced as well as the needed electricity to power the motor vehicle.

The problem seen by experts when using hydrogen as fuel for motor vehicles is that it’s not actually an independent fuel. It basically stores energy. The power needed should be extracted from hydrogen and presently, the process involves the use of fossil fuels.

Storing hydrogen in the motor vehicle is also a great consideration. The hydrogen should always be in liquid form and to do this, the temperature should be maintained at 253 degrees Celsius. If the temperature gets warmer, hydrogen will soon be in gas form. Tremendous insulated tanks are needed as well as venting systems.

Only when the possible problems are solved can the world fully benefit from hydrogen powered vehicles. Aside from that, hydrogen stations should be increased so that the car owners can easily refuel when they ran out of hydrogen. Perhaps the hydrogen motor vehicles used at present are quite expensive but in the future, perhaps more affordable hydrogen powered vehicles will be offered to the pubic.

In fact, popular car manufacturers like General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Ford, etc. are designing hydrogen powered motor vehicles that are priced similar to ordinary gas-consuming vehicles.

People can only hope that the so-called future cars will be a reality. If you want to experience using hydrogen as fuel, you can have your car converted. With dual tanks, you can save money and just in case you can’t find a hydrogen station, you can always refuel with gasoline.

Hydrogen as fuel for motor vehicles will definitely be a big hit in the coming years. For now, try to help save the environment with other means.